A suicide bomber exploded himself during Zuhr prayers at a mosque insidePolice Lines in Peshawar on Monday, martyring 44 worshippers and injuringmore than 157 others including policemen.
Lady Reading Hospital spokesman Muhammad Asim Khan said: “We are receivingmore dead bodies, so far we have received 44 dead bodies and more than 157wounded.”
“I am here at the scene and rescue work is ongoing,” said Peshawar DeputyCommissioner Shafiullah Khan. “More bodies are being taken out. Currently,our priority is to save people buried under the debris.”
Twenty-seven of the dead people were said to be policemen. The mosque’sprayer leader was also among the killed persons.
While confirming the blast was a suicide hit, security officials said thebomber was standing in the first row while the Zuhr prayers were beingoffered. He then exploded himself during the prayers. The explosion was sohuge that it completely levelled a section of the mosque and damaged otherparts.
Journalists at the scene saw rescue workers carry two dead bodies away inan ambulance. Part of the mosque roof and wall structure had collapsed, andbloodied survivors were limping away from the wreckage.
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“We have received dead bodies. It’s an emergency situation,” said MuhammadAsim Khan, a spokesman for Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, adding thatat least 50 wounded had so far arrived at the facility.
Last March, an Islamic State suicide bomber attacked a minority Shiitemosque in Peshawar killing 64 in Pakistan’s deadliest terror attack since2018.
The blast was so powerful that its noise was heard miles away.
Sources said that after the explosion, the rescue officials and lawpersonnel rushed to the venue.
